How to Read Houses is an insider's guide to recognising and appreciating the diversity of domestic architecture that reflects the location, the fashion and the technological savoir-faire of the age - from Tudor timber-frames to the truly unconventional. Houses are arranged by period and style, including Renaissance, Neoclassical, Arts and Crafts, Modernist and many more besides. Featured houses range from Sutton House in London to Port Sunlight in Merseyside; from St Fagans in Cardiff to Hill House in Glasgow. Compact enough to travel with you, yet comprehensive enough to provide real answers, with real examples, this handy reference guide: - provides an understanding of the architectural vocabulary along with the visual clues that identify any house style and its historical context - enhances the appreciation of visits to landmark houses and lays the foundations for an architectural exploration of your own home or area - explores the main architectural styles, as well as the materials and components of a house through beautifully rendered illustrations, photographs of classic examples and the words of a friendly expert.